Surfing great, but rip current danger is high

Waves are building earlier than expected in Seaside Heights as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Ed Brown of Roxbury keeps a good grip on his son Ryan, 8, as they play in the rough surf in Seaside. Because of the potential for riptides guards are only letting people out waist deep. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Seaside Heights Lifeguard Pete Fusco uses his rescue board to ride a wave as he takes a swim before his shift and keeps an eye on swimmers from past the breaking waves at the same time. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Jason Stewart, 8, of Lodi, NJ plays in the waves near the shore under watchful eyes of his parents. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Doug Garcia of Pelhem, NJ bodyboards in the waves with friends just south of Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Beach goers to Seaside Heights jump in the waves in the early afternoon. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

People dig it the sand rather than swim in the ocean and the rough surf. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Swimmers jump in the waves just south of Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

A Seaside Heights lifeguard asks swimmers to move down closer to the lifeguard stand so guards can keep a better eye on them during rough surf. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Bodyboarders look for waves to ride. Waves are building earlier than expected as a result of Cristobal moving up the east coast. High surf and riptides are expected on Thursday from the storm. August 27, 2013. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Look for more powerful waves and dangerous rip currents at the beaches today.

A high risk of rip currents likely will linger in New Jersey as Hurricane Cristobal cruises several hundred miles offshore, according to the National Weather Service.

"The brunt of the storm is expected about 10 o'clock" this morning, said Janet Carbin, chief lifeguard in Spring Lake. "So I just expect everything to build." Carbin said she hopes the water will settle down as the day progresses.

The weather service warned Wednesday that "the risk of drowning will be magnified if opting to swim after lifeguards go off duty."

Lifeguards have saved dozens of people since Sunday, but a 17-year-old South Plainfield boy died after being pulled from the surf off Sandy Hook Tuesday.

With temperatures hitting the upper 80s to low 90s inland and large midweek crowds at the beaches, the rough ocean forced many lifeguards to ban or limit swimming again at the Jersey Shore. But surfers were stoked about the swells from the distant hurricane.

Dave Monachino, 45, of Ocean Grove, also went surfing off Loch Arbour and called it "clean, not a lot of people out there, so it's good."

The rough surf and red-flag warnings didn't stop beachgoers from dipping into the waters off the Ocean Grove section of Neptune, but they did say they were more cautious with the strong currents.

Gretchen Hildreth, 31, of North Caldwell, spent about five hours at the beach and estimates she watched lifeguards rescue about 10 people.

"People weren't following the rules," she said. "I think the lifeguards are earning their paychecks today."

Ron Walker, 43, of the Bronx, said he only waded into the water up to his waist for about five or 10 minutes. His wife, the more daring of the two, initially went in fully to swim before deciding the current was too rough for her.

"I have so much respect for the ocean," he said. "I know if it changed her mind, I know what I would think of it."

Elizabeth Black of Pittstown had been to the beach Monday as well as Wednesday. Surf was rough both days, but it was much worse on the more recent visit. She did make it into the ocean about mid-thigh depth, but still was battered by the waves.

"I couldn't even really stand up," she said.

The rough surf, however, wasn't as painful as other parts of the beach day she spent with her daughter, Sarah, 9. That title went to the six-mile backup on the Garden State Parkway getting to the beach.

"The traffic getting down here was worse than that," she said.

Danny George, beach manager at Long Branch public beaches, said lifeguards made more than a dozen rescues Wednesday and 72 — involving probably 100 to 120 people — on Tuesday.

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Seaside Heights lifeguard Pete Fusco uses his rescue board to ride a wave before his shift and keeps an eye on swimmers at the same time.(Photo: PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

"Conditions were rough" Wednesday, with yellow flags flying and bathing restrictions, he said.

"We're anticipating bigger" waves today, he said, and his advice is to "swim near a lifeguard."

Seaside Heights Beach Patrol Capt. Rob Connor said lifeguards rescued about 23 people in the last three days.

"Once you get off your feet, it's sucking you out really fast," he said of the rip currents.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty recognized the efforts of the borough water rescue team Wednesday night. He tweeted "Belmar water rescue team doing an amazing job tonight saving after hours swimmers caught in rough seas," before noting that people swimming in rough seas pose a threat not only to themselves but rescuers.